WELCOME TO THE NEW #SBS SITE

We have several new initiatives within the site that will help your business but to make the most of the new features we need some information from you!

TAILORED EVENTS AND NEWS

As Theo mentioned at the event we want to start organising other events and workshops throughout the year which will benefit your business. However before we are able to do this we need to understand a little more about your business so that we can tailor what events and information would suit your business.

NEW IMPROVED SEARCH FUNCTIONALITY

We have improved the search functionality on the site and have added a directory which potential customers will use to find your products or services! To make sure that you can be found by potential customers who visit the #SBS Directory can you choose a category from the list below that you think best describes your business:

Business Services

Computers & Internet

Entertainment

Finance & Legal

Home and Garden

Industrial & Commercial

Shopping

Society

Travel & Tourism

OTHER BENEFITS

Along with these benefits the other features that Theo launched at the #SBS Event are as follows:

Improved news and offers functionality on your #SBS profile which can appear on the homepage

#SBS business of the month who will feature on the homepage for the whole month

Ability to discuss posts and news on the site

Badge generator so that your business name can be integrated into the #SBS badge

MY BIO

I was born in 1963 in South Yorkshire, the youngest of six children. My father and my mother chose to end their early professions as coal miner and hotel cook to pursue life as steward and stewardess of public houses, which had a huge impact on the way my life was to develop - moving from place to place.
It was back in the 1970s when my parents finally settled in Stockport, Cheshire, where, as a young boy, I had my first taste of narrow boating. Three boats, with twelve lads per boat, on a school outing. It was terrific tripping through the industrial city of Birmingham. I had so much fun. So much, in fact, that I took part in the next two school canal trips. I think what excited me at the time was being away from home for a week with my school chums. The narrow boats we hired were from a company in Middlewich and were all named after trees: Sycamore, Oak and Poplar. Each vessel a thing of beauty painted in traditional colours adorned with the castles and roses that are commonplace in canal boat art. It wasn’t until later in life, though, that my interest in this art form began.
At an age when I was able to hire a boat for myself, I took the opportunity to introduce my daughter to the canals of Great Britain. I was now taking more time to really see the things around me: the beautiful countryside, the sometimes-amazing wildlife, and the beautiful boats in their finery - glossy coats shining in the morning sunlight. You can really respect what many owners have done with their pride and joy, and, as you slowly pass them by, you can’t help but smile (even chuckle) at some of the names they choose to call their crafts. Most of all, though, I admired the colourful paraphernalia displayed on many of the narrow boats and in the canal side stores. The simplicity with which the art is applied and the splendour of what it can become. It was this that appealed to me most as I dusted off my old paintbrushes and began to bring the life back into traditional items found on the canals.
Life has been good. Now living in one of the notable villages of the canal network, Braunston near Daventry (where the names of Nurser and Hough are commonly known), my work has developed. I’d like to think by the inspiration I get from watching canal boats sailing past the bottom of our garden and also good old hard work and practice.
I hope that my artwork, in its naive primitive style, can show the beauty that can be found in this traditional British Folk Art - an art that I have grown to love and a history that I have learned to cherish.
Finally I would like to thank my wife Christina, who helped me immensely in getting my website up and running. She is truly a wonderful person and my best friend. I love her dearly.

MY BUSINESS TIPS

Being hand-painted (and often bespoke), each item I create takes time to complete. So, once someone has placed an order with me for canal artwork, I need to ask them to be patient. I have built my business on honesty, hard work, a love of what I do and taking pleasure in delivering exceptional customer service. It is wonderful to see my work being enjoyed and recognised on the canals. Thank you to all my customers.